Page 34 of Copper

“Guys go to the club with friends sometimes. Has anyone at the club ever seen Murphy Beckett with guests?”

I glance at Coleson, and he raises his eyebrows. He likes the idea.

I turn back to Mitchell. “Strippers don’t talk much. Lucy would have mentioned if he was there with people, though.”

“She’s not there all the time. I think Lucy works mostly day hours, right?”

The room goes quiet, and I lean forward in my chair, not blinking. “How the fuck do you know Lucy’s work hours?”

If Mitchell wanted to blend into the wall before, he wants to sprint from the room now. His face reddens, and his eyes widen like a child that just got caught stealing bubblegum. “Um.”

“Don’t fucking ‘um’ me. Do you watch Lucy dance?”

“I, uh…” His voice trails away, and he pops his knuckles. “Sir, I didn’t know it was your ex-girlfriend. I went there after work a few times. It was three in the afternoon. I put it together that she may not have the middle of the night hours.”

“You’ve seen her dance? Did you put dollars in her string?” I ask, my voice shaking. “Fucking hell, please tell me you’ve never been in the VIP room.”

“Don’t answer that, Mitchell,” Coleson interrupts.

“Who are you? His fucking lawyer?”

Coleson laughs and picks a stress ball up off his desk. “Nah. I’m just the guy not wanting workplace drama. We know she’s your girl now, Sheriff, but she’s a stripper. Men in this town have seen her body.” He looks over my shoulder and smiles at Mitchell. “You going to go watch your boss’s girl dance on a pole now that you know she’s your boss’s girl?”

“No, sir. Never.” Mitchell looks at the floor. “And I’ve never been to the VIP room. I swear to fucking God.”

“Let’s explore your idea,” Coleson says, taking control of the conversation. “Dwyer,” he says, snapping me out of thoughts of strangling Mitchell. “Let’s focus. Can we get video footage of Murphy with someone there?”

I shrug. “Maybe. I’ll talk to Peter.”

“Good. I don’t think it’s a bad idea since we have nothing else. If we can tie Murphy to Cannon, which we can through financial records, and to Todd Daniels with something besides a membership card, I think we have a chance at a warrant.”

I stand up and take my coffee mug with me. It’s the only thing keeping me moving right now. “I’ll talk to Peter and go through the tapes. I know Murphy Beckett and can easily identify him in grainy footage better than a rookie that’s never met him.”

“Sounds good. Let me know if you find anything.”

“It could take days. Literally.”

“Well, you’ll probably have to watch them at the club. At least you’ll be near Lucy while you do it.”

Perks.

Chapter 16

Lucy

“Whenarethegirlscoming back?” I ask in a quiet voice. “You can’t keep them away forever. They have school.”

I feel terrible that his girls aren’t home with him. I see him walk by their rooms at night and stop in their doorways, simply looking at the stuffed animals they left on their beds. He folds their laundry in the evenings, and I see the sad look as he bundles their paired socks into balls, probably wondering how much longer their feet will be that little. How much time is he wasting with his girls who lost so much already?

Because of me.

He’s keeping me at his house for my own safety.

And I’ve never felt safer. We haven’t slept in the same bed since that first night, but it’s not for lack of want. I want to curl into him. He just hasn’t been home much.

He’s exhausted, and dark circles hover under his eyes. He’s pale, and even a morning run the other day didn’t give him the energy I know he wants. Watching endless hours of tapes and looking for Murphy dirt has him tired and drained.

I see him in passing at night before he shuts the door to his room. I close the guest room door and let my fingers wander to my slit as I think about him. His fingers. His mouth. His cock. I’ve stood at my door with my hand on the knob more than once. Should I tell him I had a bad dream and climb into his bed, only to slowly work my mouth down his body? He’d allow it. I know he would. But he doesn’t pursue me himself.

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